IPOH, October 13 — Perak lawmaker Chong Zhemin said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohammad’s refusal to table and pass the anti-party hopping enactment before dissolving the state assembly shows that Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) is not confident of winning the simple majority of 30 state seats out of 59 in the 15th General Election (GE15).
The Keranji assemblyman said that Saarani’s statement saying the passing of the anti-party hopping enactions as not necessary and can be done after the general election, was irresponsible.
“I would like to ask Datuk Seri Saarani, how can the anti-hopping law prevent Perak state representatives from defecting after GE15 if the anti-hopping Bill will only be tabled after the election and not put into effect?
“Saarani's reluctance to call for an emergency state assembly session to table the enactment shows BN wants to make room for elected representatives to jump parties to support the coalition if the number of BN seats is insufficient to form the Perak State government in GE15,” he said in a statement.
“Since the Sultan of Perak has not yet agreed to dissolve the state assembly, I once again urge the mentri besar to hold an emergency state assembly meeting in the near future to present, discuss and approve the anti-hopping Bill before the state assembly is dissolved."
Yesterday, Saarani presented his request to the state Ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah to dissolve the state assembly, heeding the call made by Umno-led BN coalition to seek a dissolution of state assemblies to synchronise the state and national elections.
No decision was made on the dissolution during Saarani’s audience with the state Ruler at the Istana Kinta here.
Subsequently, Saarani held a press conference informing that any decision on the dissolution will be announced by the palace.
